Machine for filling containers with different types of products

ABSTRACT

A weight filling machine suitable for filling containers with two or more products of different types is provided. In particular, a weight filling machine comprising a filling unit and a supply unit for one or more products of different final composition for the filling of containers, where said one or more products comprise the same base composition for all the products and one or more additives, which are different for each different final composition, characterized in that the supply unit comprises a tank for the base composition and a plurality of mixing units, one for each different product, each of the mixing units being connected by means of respective supply lines to the filling unit is provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102016000053102, filed May 24, 2016, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a weight filling machine suitable for filling containers with two or more products of different type.

STATE OF THE ART

A particularly felt problem in the field of filling machines, in particular of weight filling machines, is the one of filling containers with products of different type to form a composition. A typical example occurs for household products such as detergents for home hygiene, for washing clothes and similar products. It is indeed known that such products comprise a base composition, which typically amounts to about 99% of the weight of the product, and fragrances and/or dyes which are added to the base composition to give the product a range of different organoleptic features so as to please different user tastes. For example, a detergent may be introduced to the market with a pink color and a rose scent, or have the color and scent of lavender, and so on.

The production of these diversified products requires first preparing the different mixtures of substances and then filling the containers with such mixtures, by operating for example by successive lots, each with a different product. This requires interrupting the filling process between one lot and the other to wash the equipment.

Alternatively, machines exist which are capable of simultaneously filling containers with mixtures of different products, by drawing from diversified tanks, one for each product, but managing the filling procedure is complex and the bulk of the equipment is significant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem addressed by the present invention therefore is to provide a filling machine, in particular a weight filling machine, which allows optimally managing the simultaneous filling operation of containers with diversified products and which has a reduced bulk.

Such a problem is solved by a filling machine as outlined in the appended claims, the definitions of which form an integral part of the present description.

In particular, the invention relates to a weight filling machine comprising a filling unit and a supply unit for one or more products of different final composition for filling containers, where said one or more products comprise the same base composition for all the products and one or more additives, different for each different final composition, where the supply unit comprises a tank for the base composition and a plurality of mixing units, one for each different product, each of the mixing units being connected by means of respective supply lines to the filling unit.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of certain embodiments thereof, given below only by way of non-limiting, indicative examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a view of a block diagram of the machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a diagrammatic view of a detail of the machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a diagrammatic view of the detail in FIG. 2, according to a different embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, the filling machine according to the invention, indicated as a whole with numeral 1, comprises a filling unit 2 and a supply unit 3 for the various products P for filling containers.

The filling unit 2 comprises a rotating table 4 hinged on a shaft 5 moved by the drive of the machine. The rotating table 4 comprises a plurality of plates 6 for supporting containers C. The containers C may be held on the plates 6 in a conventional manner, for example held at the neck by suitable grippers 7.

There is positioned, above each plate 6, a filling valve 8, also of the conventional type, selected according to the type of filling liquid (for example, for foaming products, or for high density products, etc.).

The filling unit 2 in preferred embodiments is a weight filling unit, hence it will be provided with suitable devices, also of the conventional type, which allow this type of filling. In particular, the plates 6 or gripper 7 (if container C is suspended to gripper 7) are connected to a suitable loading cell which in turn is operatively connected with a command and control unit (not shown) of machine 1 so as to interrupt the filling of each individual container C once the predetermined weight is reached.

Each filling valve 8 is connected with a distribution line 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″ of a product P with different final composition. For example, in the case of detergents, a first distribution line 9 may supply a rose-scented detergent, a second line 9″ may supply a lavender-scented detergent, and so on. Each of such products P will therefore be defined by a recipe which provides mixing a base composition B with suitable additives, which are different from one recipe to the next.

FIG. 1 depicts four different distribution lines 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″, but it is apparent that there may be fewer or more of them. Moreover, the various distribution lines 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″ in the drawings are arranged in alternate order, but nothing prevents them from being grouped so as to fill, in order, a first series of containers C with a same product, a second series with a different product, and so on.

The plurality of distribution lines 9, 9′, 9″, 9′″ is connected to a distribution manifold 10 which provides to distribute the different products between the different filling valves 8 according to the predetermined order. The construction details of the distribution manifold 10 are known to those skilled in the art because such a manifold is used on conventional filling machines which allow a multi-product type of filling.

The distribution manifold 10 comprises a pressure sensor 27 for each product supplied, the function of which will be apparent later in the description.

The distribution manifold 10 is connected to the supply unit 3 for the products P by means of respective supply lines 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″, one for each different product P.

The supply unit 3 comprises a tank 12 containing the base composition for making product P, which will be equal for all the various products P dispensed by means of the supply lines 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″, and a plurality of mixing units 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″. Each of the mixing units 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″ is connected to a supply line 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″ of product P to the distribution manifold 10.

With reference to FIG. 2, each of the mixing units 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″ comprises a receptacle 19 which comprises an outlet opening 14 connected to one of said supply lines 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″ for dispensing the final composition of a product P obtained according to one of the aforesaid recipes.

Receptacle 19 further comprises an inlet opening 20, connected to a connection line 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ with tank 12 of the base composition, and one or more delivery lines 16 of one or more additives (in the drawing, two delivery lines 16 for a dye and for a fragrance are shown by way of example).

A mixing member 17, for example a blade mixer, put in rotation by an actuator 21, is arranged inside receptacle 19.

The receptacle preferably has a small volume, for example 3 to 6 liters.

The mixing unit 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″ comprises a device 18 for adjusting the level of product P inside receptacle 19.

In certain embodiments, the level adjustment device 18 comprises a float valve 22 connected to a duct 23 for venting the air above the product P head inside receptacle 19. Thereby, when, in the initial filling phase (starting phase of the machine described later), the level of product P reaches the level desired dictated by the float valve 22, the latter closes thus preventing the air to exit, and the pressure of the air (or other gaseous fluid, for example an inner gas in the case of care-sensitive products) in the free space of receptacle 19 blocks the introduction by gravity of further base composition and therefore the raising of the level.

The float valve 22 typically is an air vent valve with a straight float. Such a valve may consist of a cup with cavity facing downwards which branches off from the lower end of the vent duct 23, in which cup a float is accommodated, for example a ball-float, which is free to move between an open position and a closed position of the duct.

The delivery lines 16 of the additive(s) are intercepted by pumping means 24. In preferred embodiments, the pumping means 24 are peristaltic pumps.

Each of the connection lines 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ is intercepted by valve means 25, in particular by an on-off valve, while each of the supply lines 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″ is intercepted by a displacement pump 26.

It is important for the inlet flow rate in each of the mixing units 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″ through the respective connection lines 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ always to be greater than the flow rate of product P delivered by the aforesaid mixing units 13, 13′, 13″, 13′″ along the supply lines 11, 11′, 11″, 11′″.

As mentioned, the filling machine 1 comprises a command and control unit which manages the operating conditions of the machine, with particular reference to the supply unit 3.

The command and control unit controls the following functions:

(a) During the starting phase of machine 1,

-   -   i) opening the valve means 25 while keeping the displacement         pump 26 still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as         determined by the level adjustment device 18,     -   ii) activating the mixing member 17 and the pumping means 24 for         the additives, where the quantity of additives introduced by the         pumping means 24 is a function of said filling volume and of the         final composition of product P;

(b) During the operational phase of machine 1,

-   -   iii) activating the displacement pump 26, while keeping the         valve means 25 open, where the delivery pressure of the         displacement pump 26 is a function of the difference between the         pressure read by sensor 27 in the distribution manifold 10 and a         pre-set pressure value,     -   iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping         means 24 as a function of the final composition volume taken         from receptacle 19 by the displacement pump 26.

The operation of the level adjustment device 18 was described above.

A typical final composition of a cleansing liquid may comprise, by way of example, about 99% in volume of the base composition, about 0.3% in volume of a dye and about 0.7% in volume of a fragrance. The pumping means 24 are then operated according to such predetermined volume ratios.

In alternative embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, the valve means 25 are replaced by pumping means for loading the base composition into receptacle 19.

Valve means 29, typically a pressure limiter, are arranged along the connection line 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ between such pumping means 28 and the inlet opening 20 of receptacle 19, the valve means being connected with a recirculation duct 30 that reconnects to the connection line 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ upstream of the pumping means 28.

In this embodiment, when the level adjustment device 18 closes the air vent, the pressure of the head volume of receptacle 19 induces a closing of the pressure limiter 29 at the connection line 15, 15′, 15″, 15′″ downstream and the selection of the recirculation duct 30. Thus, the introduction of further base composition into receptacle 19, and therefore, the raising of the liquid level, is avoided.

In this embodiment, the command and control unit controls the following functions:

(a) During the starting phase of machine 1,

-   -   i) activating the pumping means 28 along the connection line 15,         15′, 15″, 15′″ with tank 12, while keeping the displacement pump         26 still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as         determined by the level adjustment device 18,     -   ii) activating the mixing member 17 and the pumping means 24 for         the additives, where the quantity of additives introduced by the         pumping means 24 is a function of said filling volume and of the         final composition of product P;

(b) During the operational phase of machine 1,

-   -   iii) activating the displacement pump 26, while keeping the         pumping means 28 active, where the delivery pressure of the         displacement pump 26 is a function of the difference between the         pressure read by sensor 27 in the distribution manifold 10 and a         pre-set pressure value,     -   iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping         means 24 as a function of the final composition volume taken         from receptacle 19 by the displacement pump 26.

From the above, it is apparent that the invention achieves the preset objects.

In particular, there will be one large tank alone for the base composition and a plurality of limited-volume mixing units, for example 3 to 6 liter mixing units. Thereby, the bulk of the apparatus is limited and the operation may be controlled in a much more efficient manner.

It is apparent that only certain particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, to which those skilled in the art can make all those modifications required for the adaptation thereof to particular applications without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. 

1. A weight filling machine comprising: a filling unit and a supply unit for one or more products of different final composition for the filling of containers, wherein said one or more products comprise the same base composition for all the products and one or more additives, different for each different final composition, wherein the supply unit comprises a tank for the base composition and a plurality of mixing units, one for each different product, each of the mixing units being connected by means of respective supply lines to the filling unit.
 2. The weight filling machine according to claim 1, wherein each of the mixing units comprises a receptacle which comprises an outlet opening connected to a respective supply line, an inlet opening, connected to a connection line with the tank of the base composition, and one or more delivery lines for one or more additives, and wherein the receptacle comprises a mixing member.
 3. The weight filling machine according to claim 2, wherein each mixing unit comprises a device for adjusting the level of the product inside the receptacle.
 4. The weight filling machine according to claim 3, wherein the level adjustment device comprises a float valve connected to a duct for venting the air above the product head inside the receptacle.
 5. The weight filling machine according to claim 2, wherein the delivery lines of the one or more additives are intercepted by pumping means.
 6. The weight filling machine according to claim 5, wherein said pumping means are peristaltic pumps.
 7. The weight filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the filling unit comprises a rotating table that moves the containers and a plurality of filling valves, wherein each filling valve is connected to a distribution line of a product and the distribution lines are connected to a distribution manifold that provides for the distribution of the products of different final composition to the filling valves in a predetermined order.
 8. The weight filling machine according to claim 7, wherein the distribution manifold is connected to the supply unit of the products by means of said respective supply lines and wherein the distribution manifold comprises a pressure sensor.
 9. The weight filling machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the connection lines is intercepted by valve means and each of the supply lines is intercepted by a displacement pump.
 10. The weight filling machine according to claim 9, wherein the valve means are an on-off valve.
 11. The weight filling machine according to claim 2, wherein each of the connection lines is intercepted by pumping means and each of the supply lines is intercepted by a displacement pump, and wherein, along the connection line, between such pumping means and the inlet opening of the receptacle, valve means, or a pressure limiter, are placed, which are connected with a recirculation duct that reconnects to the connection line upstream of the pumping means.
 12. The weight filling machine according to claim 9, comprising a command and control unit, which controls the following functions: (a) during the starting phase of the machine, i) opening the valve means along the connection lines, keeping the displacement pump still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as determined by the level adjustment device, ii) activating the mixing member and the pumping means for the additives, wherein the quantity of additives introduced by the pumping means is a function of said filling volume and of the final composition of the product; (b) during the operational phase of the machine, iii) activating the displacement pump, keeping the valve means open, wherein the delivery pressure of the displacement pump is a function of the difference between the pressure read by the sensor in the distribution manifold and a pre-set pressure value, iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping means as a function of the final composition volume taken from the receptacle by the displacement pump.
 13. The weight filling machine according to claim 11, comprising a command and control unit, which controls the following functions: (a) during the starting phase of the machine, i) activating the pumping means along the connection line with the tank, keeping the displacement pump still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as determined by the level adjustment device, ii) activating the mixing member and the pumping means for the additives, wherein the quantity of additives introduced by the pumping means is a function of said filling volume and of the final composition of the product; (b) during the operational phase of the machine, iii) activating the displacement pump, keeping the pumping means active, wherein the delivery pressure of the displacement pump is a function of the difference between the pressure read by the sensor in the distribution manifold and a pre-set pressure value, iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping means as a function of the final composition volume taken from the receptacle by the displacement pump. 